Former Match of the Day host Gary Lineker has delivered a fresh verdict on the title race after both Arsenal and Manchester City won over the weekend
Gary Lineker has been speaking about the Premier League title race(Image: (Shaun Brooks – CameraSport via Getty Images))
Gary Lineker believes Arsenal will still be crowned Premier League champions at the end of the season. Mikel Arteta’s side saw their lead at the top of the table cut on Sunday when Manchester City came from behind to beat Liverpool.
Viktor Gyokeres scored twice, and Martin Zubimendi was also on target as Mikel Arteta’s side comfortably beat Sunderland 3-0 on Saturday afternoon to move nine points clear. But that lead was just over 24 hours later, after City came from behind to beat Liverpool thanks to goals from Bernardo Silva and Erling Haaland.
But even though only six points separate the Gunners and City in the league table, Lineker still believes that it will be Arsenal who are crowned Premier League champions this season. Speaking on the latest of the Rest is Football podcast, he said: “I think for the neutrals, it keeps it alive.
“I still don’t think there’s any way that Arsenal won’t win it personally.” Delivering his own verdict on Sunday night, Gary Neville declared live on Sky: “Well 10 minutes ago the title race was done. It was now or never for Man City – it’s now!
“Sometimes in a title race a team will grab an opportunity, City have grabbed one. They could be within three points by Wednesday, which will put pressure on Arsenal.
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“It’s bedlam out there, it’s blue bedlam. Man City were 1-0 down and they’ve gone and won. If you want to sent a signal, you’ve just sent it. They’ve struggled lately, it was like they were refusing to enter the title race. But they’ve entered it in style.”
Speaking after the victory over the Black Cats, Arteta said: “Very, very happy, obviously, with the win, with big parts of the performance, with the clean sheet as well, because it’s a really tough opponent.
“They’re really good at what they do, really good at breaking play, playing to the last line, breaking your press, holding the ball, and it’s very difficult to get sequences with threat and momentum consecutively.
Mikel Arteta during Arsenal’s win vs Sunderland(Image: Getty Images)
“But we knew that, I think the first goal really helped to unlock that kind of phase, and then again, the finishers, they came on the pitch and immediately they had a huge impact.”
While City boss Guardiola said: “It was a brilliant advert for the Premier League. First half was really good and we lost a bit of momentum in the second half. Anfield can feel like that.
“After that, we played more direct and after that we lost the ball and we were so passive. What a strike from Szoboszlai and after that, led by our captain Bernardo, we come back.
“The spirit has been there and in general the first half was really good and second half a bit of fatigue. Omar and Erling were passive and that’s why we struggled.”
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Sky has slashed the price of its Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle ahead of the 2025/26 season, saving members £192 and offering more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more.
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